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Learn how to achieve a polished, professional master using an equalizer chain with HoRNet HarmoniQ, ThirtyOne MK2, and Sleek to elevate your mix’s clarity and depth.
Mastering is often regarded as the final step to bring a track to life, giving it that polished and professional sound. One of the secrets to achieving this finish lies in using a chain of carefully chosen mastering equalizer plugins that elevate the sonic quality of your music. Here, I will walk you through my go-to chain for the master bus. It involves three essential tools from HoRNet Plugins: HarmoniQ, ThirtyOne MK2, and Sleek. Let’s see how each one of these equalizer plugins helps to make the mix shine.
The first plugin in my equalizer chain is HoRNet HarmoniQ. This automatic equalizer is excellent for identifying and controlling inharmonic frequencies that can otherwise create harshness or interfere with the clarity of your track. HarmoniQ features specific filters designed to target these problematic areas, and I use it with a light touch—only about 30% effect intensity. This helps to reduce unwanted frequencies by up to 6 dB without over-processing the sound. The goal is to create a cleaner mix that allows the musical content to shine without any grating overtones. Using HarmoniQ at this subtle level helps maintain the musicality of the track while enhancing its overall smoothness.
Next in the chain is HoRNet ThirtyOne MK2. I set this graphic equalizer to its static EQ mode, using the average algorithm with the default gain compensation settings. ThirtyOne MK2 is adept at reducing masking between adjacent frequency bands, effectively allowing different elements in the mix to have their own space and clarity. With a 50% effect applied, the plugin automatically corrects the gain of each band to reduce overlap, resulting in a more transparent and balanced mix. This helps instruments retain their distinctiveness, ensuring that no part of the mix overpowers the rest.
Lastly, I use HoRNet Sleek to finalize the mastering eq process. Sleek works dynamically by applying filters as soon as resonances appear, comparing a smoothed version of the frequency spectrum with the real-time spectrum. I use it with the “master sweetener” preset, which helps to tame resonances naturally as they occur. This is particularly useful to prevent the mix from sounding too harsh or cluttered, and Sleek does an excellent job of keeping everything smooth without sacrificing energy. By responding only when necessary, it maintains a transparent approach that enhances the listening experience.
These three mastering equalizer plugins work together seamlessly to create a polished, professional master that’s free from problematic frequencies while remaining dynamic and lively. By using HarmoniQ, ThirtyOne MK2, and Sleek, I can ensure that my master bus maintains a high level of clarity and depth without sounding over-processed. If you’re looking to improve your master, try incorporating these tools and experience the difference.
